Dynamo Makhachkala
- FC Dynamo Makhachkala head into the second leg of their relegation/promotion playoff with FC Ural Yekaterinburg 1-0 up on aggregate after a hard-fought win away to Ural in the first leg.
- Vadim Evseev’s side are clear underdogs for the 2025-26 Russian Premier League season after taking just 26 points from 30 matches, finishing in 14th place.
- Survival would be a reward for the defensive solidity and organisational ability that Evseev has instilled on the squad since his appointment.
- Dynamo play with a back four and two holding midfielders, sitting deep and attempting to absorb pressure before countering with their forwards and creative players.
- Idar Shumakhov will miss Saturday’s game through injury, but Dynamo’s defence will be slightly weakened by his absence.
- Gamid Agalarov leads Dynamo’s attack and is their greatest goal threat, but he is more than capable of being dangerous in tight games and set-piece situations.
- Mohammadjavad Hosseinnejad and Hazem Mastouri can also play a key role on the wide areas, providing good service and scoring the odd goal when the team counter-attacks at pace.
Ural Yekaterinburg
- Ural’s form has been a little patchy in recent weeks with two wins and three defeats from their last five, including the home defeat to Dynamo in the first leg.
- Ural have been known for their solid defensive organisation and wide-based football with tempo since Berezutskiy took over in December 2025 and turned the club into a promotion contender.
- Martin Sekulić is the focus of the team’s attack, a hold-up player that can score goals and has found the net six or seven times this season.
- Roman Akbashev provides some additional punch on the right and is good at making runs in behind, while Aleksandr Selikhov is the experienced anchor at the back.
- Ural won 3rd place in the 2025-26 Russian First League, collecting 61 points from 34 games to secure their playoff place.
Head-to-Head
This is the first major tie between the two sides since Ural were in the First League and Dynamo in the Premier League, so there is little history to guide us.
Dynamo Makhachkala
- Gamid Agalarov leads Dynamo’s attack and is their greatest goal threat, but he is more than capable of being dangerous in tight games and set-piece situations.
- Mohammadjavad Hosseinnejad and Hazem Mastouri can also play a key role on the wide areas, providing good service and scoring the odd goal when the team counter-attacks at pace.
Ural Yekaterinburg
- Martin Sekulić is the focus of the team’s attack, a hold-up player that can score goals and has found the net six or seven times this season.
- Roman Akbashev provides some additional punch on the right and is good at making runs in behind, while Aleksandr Selikhov is the experienced anchor at the back.
Betting Insights
- Dynamo Makhachkala are slight favourites to win Saturday’s second leg (2.06), with Ural seen as long shots (3.96) and the draw offered at (3.4).
- Under 2.5 goals at 1.57 looks a fair representation of both clubs’ goal threat and the likely outcome of a match where one side will eventually break through the other’s solid defence.
Prediction
However, we believe Dynamo’s knack for squeezing out results against top-flight opponents in a low-scoring style can continue in this game with their 1-0 lead.
